If you're not pregnant but are feeling kicking sensations anyway, you're not imagining things. Here are possible causes of this unusual feeling.
While it can be an incredible sensation feeling your baby kick for the first time, it can be an incredibly worrisome feeling if you know you’re not pregnant. Before you start to question your pregnancy test, find out what else could be going on and remember it's important to consult a doctor if the problem persists.
While this may sound like a very unusual sensation to experience, sometimes that fluttering or kicking feeling turns out to be gas. Keep your eye on the symptom because while it is usually diagnosed as gas, the problem could be compressed or hardened masses of feces, which can form a blockage. It will eventually pass but can be very uncomfortable while it’s happening. This is often caused when you have a slow bowel, which happens when too much water gets removed from the waste and forms masses. This can also be the result of a poor diet, or even stress.
Colon spasms are just involuntary contractions of the intestines. This can cause pain and cramping which can sometimes replicate the kicking sensation. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common cause of colon spasms although other factors can be the cause as well.
The fluttering or kicking sensations you feel could also be due to a number of stomach-related issues. For example, stronger than usual peristalsis, which is the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal. This creates wavelike movements that move food along the digestive tract.
Of course, there is always the small possibility you took your pregnancy test too early and got a false negative. You may want to try taking another test for peace of mind. The best time to take a pregnancy test is first thing in the morning, when hCG levels are the highest.
These symptoms usually suggest an issue with the digestive system, meaning the intestines could be slightly damaged or inflamed and should be looked at by your physician. If you’re suffering from digestive or stress-related issues, a doctor may be able to prescribe a treatment to give you relief, so be sure to consult one if problems persist.
